Table Of ContentPraise for Haldane
‘There is something perennially fascinating about the sensitive polymath. John
Campbell has written a magisterial biography of such a figure—an immensely
readable account of an extraordinary life. This is, quite simply, a triumph of
the art of conveying the texture of human affairs and the events of an era. It
is a major and lasting achievement.’ — Alexander McCall Smith
‘A labour of love. Haldane is rescued from “the condescension of posterity”,
his achievement in war and peace is finally recognised, and his rightful place
in history is secured.’ — Gordon Brown
‘This captivating, ground-breaking book firmly re-establishes Lord Haldane
in the national consciousness as a remarkable statesman of the early twentieth
century. Many of his innovations are still flourishing today, and his thoughts
on statecraft have much to teach our leaders.’ — Sir Anthony Seldon, British
political biographer
‘An outstanding biography that will have Haldane recognised, at long last, as
one of our very greatest twentieth-century statesmen.’ — Sir Malcolm
Rifkind, former Secretary of State for Defence and Foreign Secretary
‘My Grandfather found Haldane to be unfailingly kind and in particular sup-
ported him in 1915 when Haldane lost Office. This book brings Haldane
marvellously to life, centre stage on the then political map of Britain. It not
only remarkably tells Haldane’s extraordinary and neglected story, but the
exceptional images so cleverly illustrate his life and the turbulent times in
which he lived. A must read.’ — The Rt Hon Sir Nicholas Soames
‘We should thank John Campbell and we should thank Haldane. Haldane saw
what our country needed and he quietly and brilliantly introduced those
changes and creations, many of which are still with us. We in intelligence, and
many others, are much indebted to Haldane. Mr Campbell tells us why.’
— Sir Colin McColl KCMG, former chief of MI6
‘Most politicians would view themselves as an outstanding success if only one
of Haldane’s reforms were credited to them. He transformed the British
Army, brought into existence many of the great civic universities, and even
proposed a Supreme Court 100 years ahead of his time. John Campbell brings
Haldane to the front of the political stage, where he belongs, and details well
his supreme intellect and political method, which has so much to teach for
today’s politics.’ — The Rt Hon Frank Field DL, former MP
‘A welcome and enjoyable biography of a towering yet overlooked figure—
Haldane was a transforming war minister, a visionary Lord Chancellor, a pas-
sionate supporter of education, and much more. Like the best biographies, this
book casts revealing light on the times in which he lived.’ — The Rt Hon. The
Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, former President of the UK Supreme Court
‘Few if any of today’s public figures can stand comparison with Haldane,
architect of so much of what we take for granted in our government and civic
society. Campbell’s account summons back to life this giant of public admin-
istration.’ — Professor Sir David Omand GCB, former Director of GCHQ
and Home Office Permanent Secretary
‘An immensely readable, painstakingly researched biography of a little-known
polymath statesman to whom Britain is more indebted than it knows. In this
Who’s Who of early-twentieth-century politics, Campbell delves deep into
Haldane’s complex and fascinating personality, in so many ways ahead of his
time. He makes his hero our hero.’ — Sir Peter Westmacott GCMG LVO,
former British Ambassador to Turkey, France and the United States
‘A refreshing and compelling new biography of the leading philosopher-
statesman of modern Britain. Haldane has had enormous influence, not
least in re-organising the British Army to prevent a quick German victory
in 1914, as well as in developing British education, the security services
and the machinery of modern government.’ — Martin Pugh, former
Professor of History, Newcastle University, and author of The Making of
Modern British Politics
‘I wish I could have read this as my guidebook before taking on my Prime
Ministerial duties, back in 2009. Now I can only hope that current and future
leaders will use their chance to do so.’ — Gordon Bajnai, former Prime
Minister of Hungary
‘A meticulously researched life of Haldane which rightly defines him as the
ultimate polymath. Haldane’s multiple achievements are a lesson to today’s
politicians: that so much more can be achieved by reaching across party lines
when searching for benign change. We have all forgotten how much our mili-
tary, intelligence services, universities and research communities continue
to benefit from Haldane’s impact, a century later. This work sets the record
straight.’ — Sir David Cooksey GBE, Chair of the Francis Crick Institute
‘The debt the United Kingdom owes to Haldane is as great as to any other
twentieth-century statesman. John Campbell’s immensely readable study
reminds us of the achievements of this extraordinary public servant. Haldane’s
instinct to work constructively across the Party divide shows the importance
of broad consensus in delivering lasting institutional reform. His search
for long-term solutions to our country’s needs has never seemed more appo-
site.’ — Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, former Leader of
the House of Lords
‘A remarkably intimate story of an exceptional man who created the British
Army of 1914. These carefully considered reforms, resolutely fought for by
Haldane in 1907, saved the nation from defeat.’ — Major-General Sir Evelyn
Webb-Carter
‘A truly superb book. Not only is it a remarkable biography of an extraordi-
nary life, it also provides important insights into Haldane’s role in laying the
foundations of the British university system. It traces how his education in
Scotland and Germany moulded his beliefs about the purpose of life and the
capacity of universities to inspire minds that contribute to the intellectual
advancement and well-being of society. A profoundly humane account of one
of Britain’s most enlightened and influential, yet insufficiently recognised,
reformers of the twentieth century.’ — Colin Mayer CBE FBA, Peter Moores
Professor of Management Studies, Said Business School, University of Oxford
‘The great sadness is that Richard Haldane was Chancellor of St Andrews,
Scotland’s first university, for only two months before he died in August 1928.
In inviting him to fill this key governing role, St Andrews knew it was appoint-
ing one of “the most powerful, subtle and encyclopaedic intellects ever
devoted to the public service of his country”. This great and long overdue
book explains why St Andrews was so keen to make him one of its own.’
— Sir Ewan Brown CBE FRSE, former senior governor of the University of
St Andrews
HALDANE.COM
HALDANE
Haldane
The Forgotten Statesman
Who Shaped Britain and Canada
JOHN CAMPBELL
in collaboration with
RICHARD MCLAUCHLAN
McGill-Queen’s University Press
Montreal & Kingston ● Chicago
© John Campbell 2020
Published in 2020 by McGill-Queen’s University Press
Published simultaneously outside of North and South America by Hurst & Company
ISBN 978-0-2280-0093-8 (cloth)
ISBN 978-0-2280-0232-1 (ePDF)
ISBN 978-0-2280-0233-8 (ePUB)
Legal deposit second quarter 2020
Bibliothèque nationale du Québec
Printed in the United Kingdom using paper from registered sustainable and
managed sources
We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Title: Haldane : the forgotten statesman who shaped Britain and Canada / John
Campbell ; in collaboration with Richard McLauchlan.
Names: Campbell, John, 1947- author.
Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: Canadiana (print) 20200189913 | Canadiana (ebook) 2020018993X
| ISBN 9780228000938 (cloth) | ISBN 9780228002321 (ePDF) | ISBN
9780228002338 (ePUB)
Subjects: LCSH: Haldane, R. B. Haldane (Richard Burdon Haldane), Viscount,
1856-1928. | LCSH: Statesmen—Great Britain—Biography. | LCSH: Great
Britain—Politics and government—1901-1936. | LCSH: Great Britain—Politics and
government—1837-1901. | LCGFT: Biographies.
Classification: LCC DA566.9.H27 C36 2020 | DDC 941.082092—dc23
Typesetting by Line Arts Phototypesetters, Pondicherry, India
Imagery: Lexaeon
Permission to quote from the Haldane Papers, Haig Papers, and the Papers of Dudley
Sommer has been granted by the National Library of Scotland; the Gosse Archive at
the Brotherton Library in Leeds by Miss Jennifer Gosse; the H.H. Asquith Papers at
the Bodleian Library Oxford by the Trustees of the Asquith Bonham Carter Papers; the
Margot Asquith Papers at the Bodleian by Christopher Osborn; and the Milner Papers
at the Bodleian by the Warden and Scholars of New College Oxford. Quotes from the
works and writings of Winston S. Churchill are here reproduced with permission of
Curtis Brown, London on behalf of The Estate of Winston S. Churchill. The Edinburgh
Academy and the Rothschild Archives have granted permission to use material from
their archives. As for private papers, Dick Haldane, Patrick Campbell Fraser, and the
Earl of Oxford and Asquith have all granted permission to reproduce material from their
respective collections. Full acknowledgements can be found at the back of the book.
To Shellard,
for your forbearance, love and support
in my pursuit of true statesmanship.
